Journal of Nutrition & Food Sciences
Open Access
ISSN: 2155-9600
+32 25889658
ISSN: 2155-9600
+32 25889658
Martha Chulu
Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital, Zambia
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Nutr Food Sci
Edible insects are valuable alternative sources of animal protein for Zambiaâ??s low income and rural population. Roasted winged termites (Macrotermes falciger) were nutritionally evaluated with a view of revealing any possibility of its use for the formulation of new food products as possible means of combating malnutrition. Minimum sized lab samples of 2 kg of dry roasted termites were collected from Lusaka and used for proximate, mineral, vitamin and fatty acid composition. The termite samples were analyzed according to official methods of analysis recommended by the Association of Official and Analytical Chemist (AOAC). Results obtained from roasted Macrotermes falciger showed that the carbohydrate content, crude protein and lipid content were high. The ash content (5.7%), moisture (6.0%) and crude fiber (2.2%) were low. Major macrominerals were potassium and sodium, while the microminerals were iron, zinc, manganese, magnesium and selenium. The samples had high amounts of vitamins C and A. The high fat content of the termite was made up mainly of unsaturated fatty acids (60.3%). These values suggest that the winged termite, Macrotermes falciger has nutritional and pharmaceutical values. The above results suggest that the winged termite, Macrotermes falciger has nutritional potential and can be used to combat protein energy related malnutrition prevalent in Zambia, if used as part of complementary foods.